Five up with 10 to play. It’s amazing that the Phillies have made it this far, just a game and a half back of the Yankees for the best record in all of baseball and hotter than any other contender when it counts the most. Tonight is a chance to go up by 2/3 the number of games remaining in the season. Monday and Tuesday nights, the Phillies sent their two best pitchers out to beat up on children. One wonders if Bobby Cox will ride off into the sunset regretting his failure to set his rotation for the three most important games of the season.

But today, Tommy Hanson takes up Atlanta’s cause. Hanson was spectacular as a rookie last year and has built on that strong performance in 2010, posting 3.8 WAR, a 3.14 K/BB ratio, and a 3.39 FIP. However, he’s going against Roy Oswalt, who, since joining the Phillies has been so good it’s starting to get boring to talk about it.

After winning the first two games of the series, this one is not absolutely essential, but it would certainly make a difference to go into the last nine games up six, rather than four.

In honor of the Phillies’ (hopeful) impending sweep this evening, we bring to you a beverage served at the Three Broomsticks in the Harry Potter series of books. Butterbeer is one of the few Harry Pottercreations that we Muggles can enjoy. It’s one part butterscotch schnapps and seven parts cream soda. It’s certainly not that alcoholic, but it tastes, well, like magic.– Michael BaumannGO PHILLIES!

This game is big psychologically and physiologically. Psychologically, it would instill confidence in the substitutes, who would get a chance to get more playing time and remove the rust off their skills before the postseason play. Physiologically, the starters , especially the pitchers, would get some needed rest ; stiff muscles would heal and the bullpen would have a needed respite. Moreover, our highly touted minor leaguers would get some major league experience.

of course, on a few days, Howard would stay in, Polly would play (he needs rest due to his elbow injury, though), and Utley would be the odd-man out. It’s hard to get AB’s for Sweeney when Howard is such a tank at 1B, and that’s the only position he can play. Gload can rest Ibañez if necessary, or Werth.

I’d like to see Worley, Bastardo, Herndon and some of the minor leaguers pitch, as well. Herndon, though not a minor leaguer, is a sinker baller and they tend to pitch better with a lot of use. He has not been getting a lot of pitching time lately.

I’m feeling pretty confident after seeing Oswalt’s splits versus the Braves: 0-3 in regular season, but 3-0 in postseason. Dude rises to the occasion. Only Johan Santana has a better career record in the second half.

How’d you guys like Jeff Kellog’s K zone last night. Both pitchers got squeezed most of the night. The difference is a Cy Young pitcher like Halladay knows how to adjust to a terrible ump as opposed to a rookie. That was the difference. Minor split the heart of the plate with a curveball to Howard that should’ve gotten him out, but

Strike zones are getting smaller and smaller. Curve balls rarely get called a K anymore. Umps get “docked” for calling balls strikes and have no punishment for calling a strike a ball. That’s why so many are hesitant to give corners anymore. It’s obviously a hitters game and they obide by their orders, it appears.

Very impressive what Halladay,Hamels,Oswalt are doing in that small park just like it was very impressive what Smoltz/Glavine/Maddux did in the steroid era. And believe me, you’d be surprised to find out that trio didn’t get corners as much as some believe. I remember many, many times where they’d get squeezed themselves.

I think the Braves had a great year. I like to talk smack with the rest of them. The Braves pitching has led them and all those comeback wins. Not having Chipper hurts because the guy is a leader and clutcher hitter. Also can play third like nobody else. I think the season is very long and they faded towards the finish line. There is no question the Phillies have a better lineup that got life back into them when they got healty. Plus our three aces do not hurt. We have been here for a few years now and now what it takes to finish out the year. It would be ashame for the Braves not to make the playoffs. They have worked very hard. Not taking anything away from the west but the Braves are better. Its not the Phillies they have to worry about its what is coming up behind them. I applaud them for giving the Phillies a run this year. It kept us hungry. Thats what baseball is all about.

Kate if I read that right birthday congrats are in order! Too bad you did not have tix for tonight. If I’d known, I was at McFaddens last night too – wow, crowded, I would have bought you a birthday refreshment.

jeff, it’s really not close at this point who has the better team. I know that. It’s the Phillies. John Schuerholz said it best…. “Losers make excuses”. I’m not making an excuse here, but you’re right. Losing Chipper hurt them in a bad way. He brought leadership and also brought a very good AB every single time he was up. Pitchers knew that and it made guys around him just a touch better. Guys like Prado and McCann are trying to do way too much and it’s showing. A guy like Infante is more valuable as a play everywhere platoon guy, but has been thrust into an everyday guy. He’s decent everyday, but better for us a utlity player.

I read a article about our three aces. They could not be more different. Hamels is a Callllllly boy. Roy 2 loves to hunt. Doc just keeps to himself. Funny. They have one thing in common. They know how to pitch.

Lets see if our boys can stay ” UP ” for this sweep game , its been a long season and its human nature to have a little let down here. They know this things wrapped up and could have a let down subconciously.

Wheeler is just corny enough and the hair is just funny enough that when I dont get the phils feed I do miss him a little. Guess anything can grow on you. Hes still not a world beater as a broadcaster.
But hes ours.

Bravoturd was rambling about oswalt being scared of the braves today. I dont read him but there was a bunch of it and i read peoples reactions. Desi has said before the Braves own Oswalt etc etc
People to need to recognized. Everything is out the window now.
Hell I fully expect Dobbs to get a hit if called upon. Well ok thats a bit of a stretch but you get the sentiment.

Thats the 58th error for the Braves since the Allstar break , this Braves team could never win a WS making that many errors. Many casual fans do not look at “D” enough in baseball , they know how important it is in football , just as important in baseball. Remember all thos great Cardinals teams that did it with pitching , speed , and defense . Those 80’s Cardinals teams barely hit the longball but man could they run and play defense and of course pitch.

I should be ashamed for not mentioning the wizard of OZ when i mentioned those Cardinals teams. —– This braves team also lacks speed to go along with poor defense. Pundits always talk about the way the Phils mash the ball , but theyre overall team speed and defense
are just as big.

Hey guys,
One more note about great defense. When you understand how hard it is to play this game well, defense is a beautiful thing to watch. So many of my friends say baseball is boring. They only like 10-9 scores, they just don’t see the athleticism that I see.

paging all braves fans?
i count 0 runs on the phils pen for the series

how many on the GREAT braves pen?

What a joke.

I said this when the phils were 7 back. I said it would be over by the end of this series. Dont worry about it. 1 more start for the big 3.
Rest people. Concentrate on best record in NL. Which is looking good.
the braves are moot. If they make it who cares if they dont who cares. Enjoy the retirement bobby.

I Hope brave fans don’t come on and try to make this a glass half full in any way —– “we had a good season , we played hard , we overachieved ” ——— bull$hit —- The Phillies showed you what a champion does —– THEY BURIED YOU !

Not always the prettiest too many RISP left but somehow we did it again…i think this is why Oswalt was brought in RAJ knew this was a problem for us…prior to June with a shaky Cole we where a supposedly high powered offense with a 1 trick Pony(Roy H)…still work to be done boys….the always tough RA Slickey is next……the Phils have to go with the mentality that we are only 1 game up on the Braves…..

Im not sure what way is a better way to sweep the Braves. Is it better to have won in the 8th and 9th inning to take the 2nd and 3rd game or is it better to just flat pound them? LOL. I just remember bravoidiot spurting out stupidity about “The braves are a better team and we will find that out in Philly”, We have a better clutch team after the 7th inning”, we have a MUCH better bullpen”, if we can get to the bullpen, the Phillies will lose easily. Can someone refresh my memory of what inning the Phillies scored in the 2nd and 3rd innings? Just curious. LOL

“Ha! Finally! For all those times the Braves broke my heart, payback!!!!”

I feel better now.

What a job by the Phils and the three headed monster they created. This series is the blueprint on how the Phillies will win in the post season. Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt crushing the hopes and dreams of any team that gets in our way. This is a good time to live. Man I love those guys!

Great job H2O and Lidge! This pitching staff is everything the ESPN propaganda has made it out to be and more! Btw…the Braves blogs were ripping their team worse than I’ve seen among a group of fans. I almost feel sorry for them…..almost.

Braves contended all year, and finally ran into a buzz saw (Hamels, Halladay, Oswalt). Just as planned; sometimes the best laid plans do work out. If they didn’t know it before, now whoever else makes it to the NLCS – as well as the AL winner – can see what they’re up against in a playoff series with the Phillies.

Braves did a lot with what they had – and they might make the playoffs yet. Their fans should stop bitching enough to see that (probable) 90-or-so wins by their club is really pretty good. Great job again by Bobby Cox.